Tom DeLay told Meredith Viera today that all the charges had been dismissed against him.

[madfloridian]

On the Today Video with Meredith Viera today, Tom DeLay says the charges brought against him were frivolous, and he says they have all been dismissed. I don't think that is true. It is about 2:25 minutes into the video.

Here's the video.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/&fg=">Today Show video with Tom DeLay and Meredith Viera

I could have sworn he still had charges against him, so I did some searching.

Tom DeLay's redistricting saga

The saga of Tom DeLay and his plan to redraw Texas congressional districts to cement Republican dominance was full of political theater and intrigue that still reverberates.

..."On Friday, at an all-day symposium at the University of Texas School of Law, many of the participants in the saga will dissect what Bickerstaff says was one of the most extraordinary political events of the past 50 years. The prosecutor and the defense lawyer for DeLay will be there, as well as experts debating the legal significance of DeLay's legacy, grabbing power for his political party while losing grip on his public career. Bickerstaff will discuss his book at an invitation-only lunch.

DeLay, who is awaiting trial on charges that he conspired to launder corporate money into campaign donations, will not attend.

Awaiting trial. Ok. That means there are still charges. That's what I thought.

And how about that Jack Abramoff? He's still talking, and DeLay is bound to be a subject.

TPM Muckraker: Abramoff still talking

Even though he's in prison, Jack Abramoff will continue to cooperate with prosecutors for the forseeable future. A status conference originally scheduled for tomorrow, during which the judge would have set a date for Abramoff to be sentenced on bribery charges, has been postponed until June 5th. Abramoff is already serviing time for separate fraud charges related to his purchase of a line of casino boats.

The prosecutors and Abramoff's lawyer agreed to push the date back last week, because "Mr. Abramoff’s cooperation will continue for the foreseeable future," according to a joint motion from the two parties. Prosecutors made the same request for Michael Scanlon, Abramoff's business partner.

Abramoff and Scanlon have already helped prosecutors win guilty pleas or convictions for ex-Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), Ney's former chiefs of staff Neil Volz and Will Heaton, ex-Majority Leader Tom DeLay's staffer Tony Rudy, and former administration official David Safavian, and prosecutors are reportedly close to indicting the former deputy secretary of the Interior Steven Griles.

DeLay, DeLay's former chief of staff Ed Buckham, Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) and former Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) are reportedly on the shortlist of other potential targets.

So he's still on somebody's short list as a target.

DeLay book coming out

DeLay, dogged by charges of money laundering in Texas, resigned from Congress last June and is awaiting trial.

Now that quote is from March 20, today. Maybe someone should tell him that all charges have not been dropped.

[NoPasaran]

1. Hot Tub Tom has been sniffing the DDT again

[madfloridian]

4. I did hear him right, didn't I? Great pic, BTW

I kept watching that part over and over today. It bothered me.

[Canuckistanian]

6. Hot Tub Tom

[yellowcanine]

7. Suck it up Tommy because no one is listening to you anymore. Your book isn't going to sell either.

[hobbit709]

2. Wanta bet that's news to Ronnie Earle?

[xxqqqzme]

3. he talks shit like that cuz he knows

the hair-do won't know the difference & won't challenge him.

[madfloridian]

5. From Dec. 2005: One charge dismissed, most serious counts in indictment upheld.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5040438

"One Charge Against Tom DeLay Dismissed
by Wade Goodwyn

Morning Edition, December 6, 2005 · A Texas judge Monday dismissed one conspiracy charge against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Still, the most serious counts in the indictment were upheld and DeLay still faces a possible criminal trial for illegally funneling money to Texas Republican candidates."

It is hard to find very much...just a sentence or two.

How many people believed him when he said that today. Did Viera know? Am I off base here? Or did he tell a lie on TV?
:shrug:

[Sadie5]

8. DeLay will be a guest on Matthew's tomorrow

Does it seem like to anyone else that all of a sudden DeLay is everywhere these days?

[madfloridian]

9. How does he get away with saying all charges are dropped?

Hoping someone from TX has more info. I just did another search and there is very little except from the right wing blogs who defend him and blast Ronnie Earle. There is almost nothing.

[NoPasaran]

14. Lying for DeLay happens as easily as breathing

How does he get away with it? Meredith Viera is a nitwit.

[rodeodance]

32. that date is 4 days old. maybe old hammer knows something?

On the Today Video with Meredith Viera today, Tom DeLay says the charges brought against him were frivolous, and he says they have all been dismissed. I don't think that is true. It is about 2:25 minutes into the video.

Here's the video.
Today Show video with Tom DeLay and Meredith Viera

I could have sworn he still had charges against him, so I did some searching.

Tom DeLay's redistricting saga

The saga of Tom DeLay and his plan to redraw Texas congressional districts to cement Republican dominance was full of political theater and intrigue that still reverberates.

..."On Friday, at an all-day symposium at the University of Texas School of Law, many of the participants in the saga will dissect what Bickerstaff says was one of the most extraordinary political events of the past 50 years. The prosecutor and the defense lawyer for DeLay will be there, as well as experts debating the legal significance of DeLay's legacy, grabbing power for his political party while losing grip on his public career. Bickerstaff will discuss his book at an invitation-only lunch.

DeLay, who is awaiting trial on charges that he conspired to launder corporate money into campaign donations, will not attend.


Awaiting trial. Ok. That means there are still charges. That's what I thought.

And how about that Jack Abramoff? He's still talking, and DeLay is bound to be a subject.

TPM Muckraker: Abramoff still talking

Even though he's in prison, Jack Abramoff will continue to cooperate with prosecutors for the forseeable future. A status conference originally scheduled for tomorrow, during which the judge would have set a date for Abramoff to be sentenced on bribery charges, has been postponed until June 5th. Abramoff is already serviing time for separate fraud charges related to his purchase of a line of casino boats.

The prosecutors and Abramoff's lawyer agreed to push the date back last week, because "Mr. Abramoff’s cooperation will continue for the foreseeable future," according to a joint motion from the two parties. Prosecutors made the same request for Michael Scanlon, Abramoff's business partner.

Abramoff and Scanlon have already helped prosecutors win guilty pleas or convictions for ex-Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), Ney's former chiefs of staff Neil Volz and Will Heaton, ex-Majority Leader Tom DeLay's staffer Tony Rudy, and former administration official David Safavian, and prosecutors are reportedly close to indicting the former deputy secretary of the Interior Steven Griles.

DeLay, DeLay's former chief of staff Ed Buckham, Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) and former Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) are reportedly on the shortlist of other potential targets.


So he's still on somebody's short list as a target.

DeLay book coming out

DeLay, dogged by charges of money laundering in Texas, resigned from Congress last June and is awaiting trial.


Now that quote is from March 20, today. Maybe someone should tell him that all charges have not been dropped.

[madfloridian]

10. Trailer for The Big Buy movie.

Trailer:
http://tomdelaymovie.com/

About the filmmakers:
http://tomdelaymovie.com/about.php

"By the time we finish this poker game, there may not be a federal government left! Which would suit me just fine."
-Tom DeLay, 1994

In a stunning 1994 interview, shortly after the now infamous Republican revolution, Tom DeLay sat down and laid out his vision for America: to destroy the Department of Education, HUD, OSHA, the NEH, the NEA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. His self-stated goal was to "completely redesign government."

The Big Buy: Tom DeLay's Stolen Congress is the story of how he did just that. It's the story of one of the most blatant power grabs in American history, and how a District Attorney in Texas turned out to be the biggest threat to the national DeLay Machine. The film is a warning about how easy it is for American democracy to be hijacked by a combination of relentless ambition and corporate millions. It makes the case that DeLay built a "custom-made Congress" that is still providing votes for his agenda.

The Big Buy is a feature length documentary that connects the dots between big money and big government. It's not a pretty picture.

Reviews from last spring when it was released.
http://tomdelaymovie.com/reviews.php

And now Brave New Films is releasing a boxed set.

{div class="excerpt"]All three films in the collection, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, The Big Buy: Tom DeLay’s Stolen Congress, and Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers, were produced and distributed by Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films. Wal-Mart and Iraq for Sale were also directed by Greenwald and are homegrown projects of Brave New Films. The Big Buy was picked up for distribution by Brave New Films from producer-directors Mark Birnbaum and Jim Schermbeck. All three are available as individual DVDs, as well as being part of The Brave New Films Box Set. Wal-Mart, in its limited theatrical release, was previously reviewed in PopMatters by Jesse Hicks, while the DVD of Iraq for Sale was recently reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

[MiniMe]

11. He also said that he had never been reprimanded by the ethics committee

another lie. Delay is in total denial.

[madfloridian]

12. Do you have details? He was lying on public TV.

I thought he was, but a search is hard. All I get is right wing stuff that is slanted.

How does he get away with it? Oh, wait, I forgot, he's a Republcan.

[MiniMe]

16. Yes, see below

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0203-02.htm

WASHINGTON — The House ethics committee chairman who presided over three rebukes of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was bounced from the job Wednesday and replaced by a Republican congressman from Washington state.


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4106938

On the first count, the bipartisan panel found that DeLay went beyond ethical standards of conduct when trying to convince a fellow Republican to vote for the controversial Medicare prescription drug bill last fall. DeLay offered Michigan Republican Nick Smith his endorsement of Smith's son in the 2004 Republican primary, in return for Smith's vote in favor of the bill. A DeLay endorsement would carry great weight with party elders and potential funders. The Ethics Committee found that to be an improper use of DeLay's authority.

The second rebuke stemmed from DeLay's fundraising activities. A Kansas-based energy company, Westar Energy Inc., donated $25,000 to one of DeLay's several political action committees. Immediately afterwards, Westar executives were invited on a two-day golf trip with the majority leader. During that trip, those executives say, DeLay asked to be advised on any interest Westar energy had in the upcoming federal energy legislation. DeLay says he does not recall making such a request. The Ethics Committee found that this situation at least created the impression that Westar Energy bought access and legislative favors from DeLay.

The third issue involved the illegal use of government resources for political purposes. During a contentious, partisan redistricting fight in Texas, DeLay called on the Federal Aviation Administration to help him track Democratic state legislators who had fled Texas in an airplane to prevent a showdown vote on the new districts.

[madfloridian]

17. Thanks...I remember the Nick Smith issue.

The bastards kept the vote open for hours until they browbeat all their guys to vote for the drug bill.

How does he get away with lying on TV and not getting called on it? Did Viera not know?

Will Matthews play along with him today as well on Hardball?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. Why do they keep interviewing that snake, DeLay

[madfloridian]

15. DeLay Critic Removed From Ethics Committee

Joel Hefley was removed from the ethics committee for being critical of DeLay. I remember the DFA put out an ad about it, all true. But DeLay threatened to sue us all....and Time Warner took down the ad.


Here's a screen shot of the ad. All true, but the lawsuit forced it to be abandoned.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0203-02.htm

WASHINGTON — The House ethics committee chairman who presided over three rebukes of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was bounced from the job Wednesday and replaced by a Republican congressman from Washington state.

The new chairman is Rep. Doc Hastings, the committee's second-ranking Republican. He was named by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to take the gavel from Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.).

In addition, Hastert appointed three new members to the panel, including two — Reps. Lamar S. Smith (R-Texas) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) — whose political action committees have contributed to DeLay's legal defense fund. Smith's PAC contributed $5,000 in 2001 and an additional $5,000 between July and September 2004; Cole's gave $5,000 between July and September 2004.

The third new Republican member is Rep. Melissa A. Hart of Pennsylvania.

[madfloridian]

18. Somebody keep me posted on how he does on Hardball.

We have Republican relatives visiting and are leaving the TV off on political stuff until they go for the day. I wonder if he will be allowed again to say that all charges were dropped.

Maybe I can catch a video on it later.

[madfloridian]

19. Newshounds has write-up on his blogger meeting...

complete with picture. And since Newshounds watches Fox so we don't have to....imagine what is on the TV in the background of the DeLay/blogger meeting.

http://www.newshounds.us/2007/03/22/tom_delay_meets_with_bloggers_guess_which_news_channel_is_on_screen.php

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ToeBot]

22. Why would Delay mention Harry Reid?

Is it one of those new age 'man crush' things? The way Tommy smokes those cigars - wouldn't surprise me one bit.

[ripple]

23. And I'm guessing you are a fraud. n/t

[Vickers]

25. Assphincter says what?

:shrug:

[cyberpj]

21. I heard him too. They do it because no one ever calls them on it therefore it works. nt

[opihimoimoi]

24. Most cornered rats squeal with delusion and fantasy...Tom DeLuded is a RAT

[radfringe]

26. Why did the Tom DeLay investigation stop?

check this out....

Why did the Tom DeLay investigation stop? Or, there is more than one way to skin a US attorney
http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3131

[madfloridian]

31. Thanks for that post from Burnt Orange.

I had not seen that. :hi:

[Evergreen Emerald]

27. How is Viera performing on the Today show?

I haven't seen her as I leave for work too early to catch it? Is she giving the politicians a pass like her co-host does?

[spooky3]

28. According to MediaMatters, she is

in some ways doing better than her competitors:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200703200010

although not perfect:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200703160001

Search results for all her cites on MediaMatters:

http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/search_results?qstring=vieira

[Evergreen Emerald]

29. Thanks...dang that is frustrating

The biggest betrayal in all of this neo-con mess is the media. I counted on them to help keep the government accountable. I am still amazed when I see reports like those you provided showing the systematic misuse of our public airways.

Disgraceful

[trof]

30. Were his lips moving? Then he was lying.

But you already knew that.

[Up2Late]

33. He's completely delusional, I wonder if he's hoping to be judged incompetent to stand trial?!?

Check out this recent NPR interview, even the interviewer, who I'm sure is a life long Republican from Carmel, Indiana, is perplexed by his thinking: <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8991717>